Page 82 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

“Spare me. I don’t want to hear it. Don’t want to know anything about it. I’m not making deals on your respect for my sister. If I thought I had to do such a thing, you’d be dead already.”

The fae laughed. “You think it would be that easy?”

A day before, Fel would perhaps have had his doubts, but after what he’d just done… “I do, River. It is that easy to kill you.”

River glanced quickly at the two men’s bodies. “Fair, fair. So you’ll pretend you’re dead because it’s a good idea, right?”

“No. I still want a deal.”

“What do you want?”

It was that anguish still speaking to him, even if it made no sense. “Do you go to Ironhold sometimes? Do you have any influence there?”

“I’m not going to answer.”

Fel chuckled. “You realize that counts as a yes, right?”

River frowned.

Still somewhat in disbelief about what he was going to ask, Fel was unable to stop himself. “Anyway, one of their princes just got married. Leandra is his wife. I… if she needs… I…” He wasn’t sure what to say.

River had an amused smile. “Oh, you love her.”

“I hate her.”

The fae tilted his head, as if genuinely curious. “How does it work when you lie to yourself? Do you actually believe it?”

“Nobody’s lying. But I want you to help her.”

“Help? The only help she can get is if I get her out of that place.” He looked up. “It’s… a little difficult. The deal would need to be—”

“No, no. She’s probably happy with her Ironhold husband. I mean, I don’t know.” It had been her choice, and she was probably fine. Fel knew that, and knew that his anxiety was nonsensical. And yet. He bit his lip. “Let’s say war breaks. Let’s say Ironhold is attacked. I doubt it, but let’s assume that could happen. I mean in a life-or-death situation. Save her.” The pleading in his voice surprised even him.

“The girl you hate. Right.” River was thoughtful. “The problem is that I can’t be everywhere at once. I can’t protect everyone.”

“Do what you can. It’s… probably nonsense. You probably won’t need to do anything.”

“But in a life and death situation, if I can, I will save this Leandra. In exchange, you’ll agree to disappear. State you’re dead.”

“I’ll ask my father to do that.”

“Indeed.” River rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t expecting you to communicate it personally.”

“And treat my sister well. But no deal for that. It’s your duty.”

He shrugged. “Not asking for any deal.”

Actually, he had asked for a deal involving Naia, but Fel was going to pretend he had never heard it. He did have an important question. “Do you love her?”

“Love is a strange, wild thing, isn’t it? It gets caged in such a little word.”

Fel didn’t like that. At all. “Evading a question counts as a no.”

“Then you clearly don’t understand us, do you?”

“Never claimed to do. Still counts as a no. What do you want with Naia?”

“Keep her safe, for one. Which I was under the impression we agreed.”

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